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Hello, Happening Blog Babes and dedicated Bachelorette viewers (both in and out of the Guilty Pleasure Closet. We know you're in there!). Don't panic, The Bachelorette didn't air early this week. My regular weekly episode dish will appear right here in this spot Tuesday morning as usual. This is Bonus Dish! I know! And a delicious dish it is, too.

Over the weekend, I had the chance to talk all things Bachelorette with the man himself. The guy who has guarded the mansion gates for the past 11 years and 27 total seasons. (Yes, it's been that long and that many, and yet we haven't aged a day!) The guy who has kept close watch on the rose count, wiped away copious quantities of tears, and kept our bachelors and bachelorettes from running screaming into the night by redirecting them to the nearest hot tub. Preferably not alone. Yes, I'm talking about the date-card-delivery guy, our always fabulous and dapper host, Chris Harrison!

Even more awesome? In addition to going behind the scenes in talking about the show, Chris also revealed that he and executive producer Mike Fleiss have expanded their desire to help singles become couples on television by launching their very own dating app. Yes, really! Now everybody can find their own hot tub honey bun. Hopefully a committed, lifelong hot tub honey bun, but, you know, your mileage may vary. Was I skeptical of this dating app, you ask? Do rose-ceremony rejectees cry as they climb into the limo of shame? Of course I was. But I checked out their At First Sight app, and you know what? I think Chris and Mike might be on to something here.

I'll let Chris tell you more about it, along with his insights regarding the show's long run and this season's bachelorette, Desiree, in our deliciously dishy Q&A:

Donna: In the 11 years since the show began, dating has changed a great deal in real life, as far as the digital age, the social age, etc. Have you found that people being open to meeting each other in new and different ways in real life has made the bachelors and bachelorettes on the show more open to meeting and falling in love in that kind of alternate environment?

Chris: Yes, absolutely. Eleven years ago there wasn't even a Myspace, much less Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. There weren't even blogs. So it's hugely different than when we began. You not only have a different group of people coming on the show, but the viewers are different, too. They expect a lot more out of their television shows, reality and otherwise. We pull back the curtain more now, show people exactly what we're doing. Viewers are more savvy than they used to be, they get out, people talk.

Donna: You've kept the process of the show pretty pure since the beginning, regarding the how they meet, how they date. You have expanded, going more international on the dates, but you also get more realistic as well. This season, we've seen Des go on a road trip with one of the guys and stop at a gas station for snacks. Far more realistic than it used to be in that sense. Is that what viewers want now? More reality with the fantasy?

Chris: Yes. If you look at the dates early on, what we showed was very different, much more skimming the surface. Whereas now we will show the good, the bad and the ugly. It's a lot more honest and open. The concept, we've learned, while perhaps not perfect is very, very good. The concept is also simple, it's two people dating, getting the chance of finding love, and that's really it. There are no surprises in the end, there's no catch. I think that's what has always set us apart.

But what we have shown over the last few years is more stories, more realistic stories. Say someone had a girlfriend on the show. Years ago, we would've, well, not covered it up, but maybe not given that guy a rose, and it would have just kind of gone away. Now we bring the girlfriend on the show, show the confrontation, the meltdown, and how it really played out. That's what the viewers demand now. And it would probably get out anyway —

Donna: That was my next question. Do you feel it's one of those things where you kind of have to now, because you don't want it getting out after the fact without you having responded to it honestly?

Chris: That was the lesson we learned with Roslyn years ago. She had a relationship with one of our producers and we handled it very delicately. For her sake, because she was a mom, and also for our sake, because we obviously weren't proud of it. So we kind of glossed over it, because we thought everyone understood, all the parties involved, hey —

Chris Harrison, host of "The Bachelorette."(Photo: Mark Leibowitz)

Donna: Let's keep our eye on the prize?

Chris: Yeah, we kind of glossed over it. You had a relationship with a staffer, it's not OK, you need to go. We should have gone a lot deeper into that, shown a lot more, because once we got down to it, she denied doing it, it was a pretty big mess. We could have handled it a lot — still delicate — but a lot more honestly. That was a lesson learned.

Donna: Over the last decade, I've watched both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette as a married person and as a single person, and I know it's given me a broader depth of perspective now of what they're going through. I know you're a happening bachelor yourself now, so do you find that that has changed your perception of and your identification with what both the bachelors and the bachelorettes are going through, both as the star of the show and as contestants?

Chris: I hope I always had an appreciation for what was going on and why people were coming on the show, but it has definitely changed since I've become single and started dating, myself. I think the first thing was just realizing why people come on the show in the first place. Because you see these beautiful, successful people and you think "why are you doing this?" And what I realized is, that's not the hard part, getting a date.

Donna: It's finding somebody you want to keep dating.

Chris: Yes! It's finding somebody you want to date twice. I guess I didn't realize. I was a little naïve and uneducated and being out there myself, it's finding somebody you want to date twice. And, coming on the show, you realize you're going to be around other pretty like-minded, successful ... and I think that's definitely something I have a better understanding of now.

Donna: Do you find you have a better handle, also, on the vulnerability they feel? Like, some contestants can open up faster and commit to the process a little sooner, whereas others may be feeling all of these things, but they don't want to say anything, because it is a vulnerable place to be.

Chris: Yes. Because you think to yourself, I'm on the first or second date, you really see people putting themselves out there, telling pretty deep stories, and I'm thinking to myself ... I don't know if I could do that yet. If I was on the show, would I be left behind? I definitely think about that. It does help me with my relationship with the bachelors and bachelorettes a lot more now when we sit down and have our deliberations, or even when we're just flying around the world, sitting in airport lounges together, you know, I can really talk to them about these guys and girls from a much more open perspective.

Donna: And a more immediate perspective, maybe, given you can more directly relate to what they're going through.

Chris: I'm glad I have both perspectives. You know, I had a wonderful, almost-20- year marriage, so I definitely know what the ultimate trophy is. I had an amazing experience, I have two beautiful children, and so I know that that is the prize, that is what we all want. I was there, and I would like to go back to the Super Bowl. And I want to help these people get there as well. So, yes, it gives me a much better perspective, and while I'm not exactly thankful for it, guess I'll take it.

Donna: I come from much the same place, having been a published author for the past 20-plus years, writing about relationships, about people falling in love from the perspective of being there, and (laughs) now, as a single person, also from the perspective of "wow, this is really hard."

Chris: (Laughs) Yeah, I'm sure there were some things I said over the last 10 years where I thought I was giving good advice and probably there were people out there dating thinking, "Sure, right. That's not what it's really like." Now I know.

Donna: So, with all of that, I know you have just this week launched a new dating app called At First Sight. I've had the chance to check out the video introduction on YouTube, and it looks wonderful and clever and seems right on point. Obviously, the show has brought a lot to your life in terms of thinking about dating and romance, and the past few years on a more personal level as well. So, how did you come at this? Why did you decide to do the app?

Chris: Mike Fleiss, the creator of the show, and I have talked about this for years. Many, many years. Pitching ideas back and forth, coming up with ideas. It just made so much sense to get involved in a dating site, with The Bachelor show and all, it was just good business sense. We thought that getting involved in a project of some kind with one of the already established online dating sites would be the best way and grow it from there. But the more we looked and dove into this, we just found them very antiquated. It seemed a huge step back from current technology, and the lessons we've learned from years of casting The Bachelor and Bachelorette.

Donna: One of the elements, speaking as a single adult who has tried online dating, that I liked was the video element you introduce with this app. Is that one of the specific things you wanted to do to make it more current, to modernize it?

Chris: Yes, we looked at the dating sites out there and, you know, you put up an old photo that we hope has been taken in the past 30 years, and there's this bio, like a piece of paper. Mike and I — we wouldn't even begin casting our show based on this, so why would people date like this? There's absolutely no way to find chemistry and find out if you're really interested in somebody. The way we do it on the show, we ask people very specific questions and you really get to know them. So what we've done with the app, is taken what we've learned on The Bachelor and Bachelorette when we cast the show, and what we know that you really want to see, is how people really find chemistry. And it's not a random video — hey, record yourself for 10 seconds — it's really a specific set of questions. If you watch the videos for any length of time — and I've watched a ton getting this going, I find it incredibly addicting and entertaining — you find people who really know where they are in life and they have a good job, maybe a child ... and then there's those younger (people), maybe more looking to have fun, "I don't know where I am in life, let's go run with the bulls!"

(Chris and Donna both laugh.)

Chris: You and I kind of chuckle at that, because that's not where we are in life, but someone else will watch that and think, "That's exactly where I am!"

Donna: I think one of the things your app has, is that it can appeal to the 50-year-old and the 20- year-old. Was that something you thought about?

Chris: Well, obviously it's going to appeal first to the younger audience, but my hope and dream is that — it's only a few days old yet — but that it will filter out and catch a much older crowd. Because, what you're talking about is helping people find others with like interests, same station in life. I hope everybody will embrace it. I know a lot of moms and dads, just from my own perspective, from my kids' school, who are dating online. I tested and talked to a lot of people before we got into this. Again, we've been doing this for years, but it was also talking to people who use the sites, what the pros and cons were, even down to the safety and security issues. Wanting people to feel safe and secure using (the app). Most dating sites, you can get inundated with hits and just run off. It can be intimidating, like walking into Yankee Stadium and saying, "Hey, everybody, right here!" It's overwhelming, and it doesn't really work like that. You can't find chemistry like that. So we limited the amount of people you can view per day.

Donna: Oh, really? I didn't know that.

Chris: Right. You're not going to get 50,000 hits in one day. What if the person you really want to be with is in there, but they're No. 39,000? You'll never get to him. So we limit it to a certain number a day, so you can actually enjoy, actually watch. If you find somebody interesting, you can talk. If not, you move on to the next day. You can look at a picture and think, "She's cute, that's a person I'd want to date," but then you watch the video and learn, oh, wow, we're in very different places in our lives. That's something that on a lot of the other dating sites, would take the actual date — that first awkward coffee shop date —

Donna: The not-date date. The date interview date.

Chris: (Laughs) Exactly. "This has been a colossal waste of time. I could have solved this watching 20 seconds of a video." So I think what we're doing is taking the one or two first, very awkward coffee dates off the table, and saving you a ton of time and, again, making it more safe and secure, so that, by the time you're communicating, you have a really good idea who these people are.

Donna: Before our time is up, I want to get a little dish on the current season. It's been, shall we say, a little dramatic. We've had girlfriends coming back, tension in the house with Ben, and now we see that James is going to have a little bit of a spotlight this coming week. James gave an interview this week where he said that anyone who says they're on the show and not open to perhaps any number of opportunities is perhaps being less than honest. Anything you want to share, or can share, about what's coming?

Chris: Sure. I mean, obviously you see what's going on with Ben, and that's not going to get any better. Things aren't just black-and-white. Is he a bad guy? No. He's a great guy, especially when he's around Des. But he's different around the guys. You don't know what defense mechanism that is, where that comes from, but obviously when he's around the guys, he's uncomfortable and maybe a little insecure and acts so different. It comes off as pompous, rude, or whatever, but obviously there's a reason behind it. But whatever the reason, it just drives the other guys crazy. That will continue. The James deal is very interesting, because, I think it's going to raise a great debate, and kind of a dilemma for Des, and for everyone on the show, and watching the show. And that is, what are people's true intentions, and can you say something, and try to be honest about it, but feel a different way. You'll know what I mean when you see it. He says some things where he feels like he's in the cone of silence, concentrating on the other guys, but the thing is, these other guys are very protective of Des. They're falling for her quickly. It's really a good group of men.

Donna: The thing I've seen this season, is the guys seem extremely open to the process, they've really owned it, like "we're here, let's do this" really up for anything, open, thoroughly enjoying themselves. So far, anyway. It's early days, but they haven't been particularly aggressive, or testosterone-filled with each other, though I'm sure that will change as the numbers narrow. But, for now, they seem to be into it with Des, but also sort of bonding and pretty honestly enjoying getting to know each other as well. So I can see how James might have thought he was safe in saying whatever he wanted to, but when it gets down to it, it's either you or Des — who's going to win that confrontation?

Chris: Right. And that's the thing. James will definitely provide enough testosterone in the coming weeks for everybody.

(Chris and Donna both laugh.)

Chris: But these guys are really interesting. It's almost like the reverse, like we're doing The Bachelor with a bunch of bachelorettes, in that these guys have come in, and given themselves up to this. Early on, they're talking about really private and personal things. It's a very different dynamic than we've had in the past.

Donna: I've seen a difference in The Bachelorette this season, too. In Emily's season, she was this sweet, Southern girl, very down-to-earth, and viewers quickly took to her. Des was also very popular on her season of The Bachelor, is also very down-to-earth and the viewers love her, and yet she's also completely different from Emily. Viewers were very protective of Emily, whereas Des seems like she can really hold her own, and yet, viewers are also invested in her finding happiness. What is your take on the differences, and on Des?

Chris: With Emily, she did show she could hold her own, too.

(More laughing.)

Chris: But, yes, it was different, she was very sweet, very Southern, and — whether it's a double standard — when guys see a single mom, they are very protective. Des, early on, established control. The guys could tell right way that she's running the show. Sometimes when you do The Bachelorette, even though she's supposedly the one in charge, it's the guys who are still running the show. Des is really in control here.

Donna: Well, she sent a guy home the first night before the rose ceremony, then the girlfriend thing, and both happened early on. Was that what gave them the impression?

Chris: It was more than just that, it was how she handled it, too. Instead of being upset, distraught, crying, which has happened in the past with bachelorettes where they'll just be bawling, saying, "You're not here for the right reasons, just go!" Whereas Des was very matter of fact, very business-like about it. And I think the guys took notice of that.

Our time ran out then, but Chris did manage to let me know that Des' brother, who caused so much controversy during the last season of The Bachelor, does surface again later this season! My guess is it will be anything but calm and serene.

So, there you have it, Blog Babes! All the latest! Check back here Tuesday morning for the low-down (and it promises to be oh, oh so very low) on what happens on tonight's episode of The Bachelorette, airing on your happening ABC station at 8 p.m. ET.

In the meantime, if you check out the At First Sight app, dish a little on what you think about it. A new-and-improved path to finding love? Who's already making their videos? Tell me all!

Donna Kauffman is a USA TODAY best-selling romance author. Her latest release in her popular Cupcake Club series is Honey Pie. Her new series, The Bachelors of Blueberry Cove, launches this fall with Pelican Point. She loves to hear from readers and viewers! Her website is DonnaKauffman.com.